Handheld Pool Skimmer

ABSTRACT

A handheld pool skimmer is an apparatus that allows a user to get into a swimming pool and manually collect all of the debris within the swimming pool. The apparatus includes an edging frame, a mesh, a plurality of hand grips, and a plurality of brushes. The mesh is used to sift through the pool water and collect the debris within the pool water. The mesh is held taught on the apparatus with the edging frame, which also provides a structural base for the other components. The hand grips are distributed about the edging frame so that the user can grasp the necessary section of the present invention. The brushes allow the user to scrub or sweep up debris from the surface of the swimming pool.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/934,144 filed on Jan. 31, 2014. The current application is filed on Feb. 2, 2015 while Jan. 31, 2015 was on a weekend.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pool filter accessories. More specifically, the present invention is a pool skimming apparatus that is used to manually clean leaves, bugs and debris from swimming pools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automatic skimmers often get clogged and, if not used daily, will not clean the side of the pool especially in areas with high insect infestation as well as leaves that may have sap which allows them to adhere to the side of the pool. Often these automatic skimmers will become clogged, ineffective and eventually break down, the replacements of which are in the range of $400 to $600. Such an issue can be avoided completely with the use of the present invention as a substitute or augmenting of the automatic skimmer.

The present invention may be used in such pools from home settings to small commercial pools based anywhere in the world. The present invention would enable debris, such as leaves, bugs, and sand, to be removed prior to getting lodged into and prematurely filling up the filter. Studies have shown that prevention of clogging of the pool filter leads to higher longevity and lower operating costs for the average pool, which is typically not covered. The present invention thus leads to a much longer life and less maintenance for the pool filter. The primary benefit of the present invention is the reduction in use or complete removal of expensive automatic skimmers. Used in combination with the automatic skimmers, the present invention leads to a longer life and higher efficiency at lower operating cost for these types of systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view for the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the present invention taken around circle A in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view for the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the present invention taken around circle B in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the present invention without the mesh.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the present invention without the mesh.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 through 4, the present invention is a handheld pool skimmer, which allows a user to manually sift through the water of a swimming pool and collect leaves, sand, bugs, and other kinds of debris within the pool. The present invention is sized and designed so that the user can get into the swimming pool with the present invention and can easily maneuver the present invention through the pool water. Once the present invention is full of debris, the user can hit the present invention on the side of the swimming pool in order to empty out the collected debris into a disposal area. The user can keep repeating the process of using the present invention until the entire swimming pool is clean of debris. The present invention comprises an edging frame 1, a mesh 8, a plurality of hand grips 9, and a plurality of brushes 10. The edging frame 1 provides a structural base for the other components to be properly positioned about the present invention. The mesh 8 is a grid-type material that is stretched across the edging frame 1 in order to collect debris sitting within the pool water. The plurality of hand grips 9 allows the user to firmly grasp specific areas of the present invention so that the user can force and guide the present invention through the pool water. The plurality of brushes 10 is used to scrub any harden residue on the surface of the swimming pool. The plurality of brushes 10 is also used to sweep up any settled debris from the bottom surface of the swimming pool. Once the settled debris is swept up and is floating away from the bottom surface of the swimming pool, then the mesh 8 can then be used to collect that debris.

The general configuration for the components of the present invention allows a user to efficiently and effectively collect debris within the pool water. The edging frame 1 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 comprises an inner lateral surface 2, which is the surface delineating the interior hole of the edging frame 1, and an outer lateral surface 3, which is the distal surface delineating the boundary of the edging frame 1. The mesh 8 is perimetrically connected to the inner lateral surface 2 so that the mesh 8 is taught on all of its edges as the present invention is moved through the pool water. Each of the plurality of hand grips 9 is integrated into the edging frame 1, which allows the user to firmly grasp the edging frame 1 through the plurality of hand grips 9. The plurality of hand grips 9 is distributed around the edging frame 1, which allows the user to grasp specific areas in order to utilize the different features of the present invention. For example, the user could grasp a specific pair of hand grips while sifting through the pool water with the mesh 8 and could grasp a different pair of hand grips while scrubbing with the plurality of brushes 10. In addition, the plurality of brushes 10 is adjacently connected to the outer lateral surface 3, which allows the user to use a raking motion with the edging framing in order to scrub or sweep with the plurality of brushes 10. More specifically, each of the plurality of brushes 10 comprises a plurality of bristles 11, which are oriented normal to the outer lateral surface 3. This orientation for the plurality of bristles 11 allows the plurality of brushes 10 to apply the maximum amount of sweeping or scrubbing force on debris located on a surface of the swimming pool.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a buoyancy feature 13 is integrated into the edging frame 1, which is shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, so that the present invention can stay at the same water level if the user accidently lets go of the present invention in the pool water. The absence of the buoyancy feature 13 could cause the present invention to sink to the bottom or float to the top of the swimming pool if the user accidently lets go the present invention. Either situation could cause the user to lose track of the present invention in the pool water. The buoyancy feature 13 can be, but is not limited to, water retaining structures manufactured into the edging frame 1.

Also in some embodiments of the present invention, the edging frame 1 is designed with a pair of opposing lengthwise portions 6 and a pair of opposing widthwise portions 7, which are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The pair of opposing widthwise portions 7 is positioned in between the pair of lengthwise portions 6 in order to form a rectangular shape with the edging frame 1. This rectangular shape can be used to define the positioning for other components of the present invention. One such definition is with the plurality of hand grips 9. The present invention allows for a corresponding hand grip from the plurality of hand grips 9 to be centrally positioned on each of the pair of opposing lengthwise portions 6 and each of the pair of opposing widthwise portions 7, which allows the user to grasp any side of the present invention. Another such definition is with the plurality of brushes 10. The present invention allows for the plurality of brushes 10 to be adjacently connected to one of the pair of opposing widthwise portions 7. This allows the user to move a large area of the mesh 8 through the pool water when the pair of opposing lengthwise portions 6 is approximately parallel to the bottom surface of the swimming pool. The user can then turn the present invention so that the plurality of opposing lengthwise portions 6 is approximately perpendicular to the bottom surface of the swimming pool, which would allows the user to more easily complete the racking motion that is required to utilize the plurality of brushes 10.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edging frame 1 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 further comprises a first assembly piece 4 and a second assembly piece 5, which allows the present invention to be easily manufactured and assembled by the user or someone else. The first assembly piece 4 and the second assembly piece 5 are mirroring pieces that outline the three-dimensional shape of the edging frame 1 and are attached to each other in order to form the edging frame 1. The division of the edging frame 1 between the first assembly piece 4 and the second assembly piece 5 perpendicularly traverses through both the inner lateral surface 2 and the outer lateral surface 3. Consequently, this embodiment allows the mesh 8 to be perimetrically pressed in between the first assembly piece 4 and the second assembly piece 5, which secures the mesh 8 in place by clamping down on the mesh 8 from both sides. Moreover, the first assembly piece 4 and the second assembly piece 5 are attached to each other by an adhesive or a physical attachment means such as some kind of fastener. The ideal attachment means for the preferred embodiment is a plurality of rivets 12, which are evenly distributed about the edging frame 1 in order to secure the first assembly piece 4 to the second assembly piece 5 along each section of the edging frame 1.

Also in the preferred embodiment, the buoyancy feature 13 can be manufactured as a first channel 14 and a second channel 15, which are shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The first channel 14 is an open enclosure that is integrated into the first assembly piece 4, adjacent to the division. The second channel 15 is also an open enclosure that is integrated into the second assembly piece 5, adjacent to the division. The first channel 14 and the second channel 15 are pressed together as a means to retain water within the edging frame 1. The retained water within the edging frame 1 allows the present invention to remain at the same water level if the present invention is let go by the user.

Also in the preferred embodiment, the present invention is composed of high strength yet low cost materials that are readily available for local or international manufacturing. The edging frame 1 is made of a high polymer plastic. The mesh 8 is made of a plastic mesh. The plurality of brushes 10 are made of plastic bristles.

The present invention offers a number of benefits over other pool skimming devices. One such benefit is that the present invention can be conveniently used by all ages. Another such benefit is that the present invention is economical to home owners with a swimming pool. The present invention can lower operating costs for the swimming pool by allowing for more optimum use of the automatic skimmer or allowing for complete avoidance of the automatic pool skimmer, by allowing for no premature replacement of expensive filters (which may equal up to 50% of the cost of a swimming pool), by allowing for less down time, and by allowing for less debris in the pool (which leads to a far more pleasant swimming experience). Another such benefit is that the present invention is environmentally friendly.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld pool skimmer comprises: a edging frame; a mesh; a plurality of hand grips; a plurality of brushes; said edging frame comprises an inner lateral surface and an outer lateral surface; said mesh being perimetrically connected to the inner lateral surface; said plurality of hand grips being distributed around the edging frame; each of the plurality of hand grips being integrated into the edging frame; and each of said plurality of brushes being adjacently connected to the outer lateral surface.
 2. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a plurality of rivets; the edging frame further comprises a first assembly piece and a second assembly piece; a division between the first assembly piece and the second assembly piece perpendicularly traversing through said inner lateral surface and said outer lateral surface; said mesh being perimetrically pressed in between said first assembly piece and said second assembly piece; and said first assembly piece and said second assembly piece being attached to each other by said plurality of rivets.
 3. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the edging frame further comprises a pair of opposing lengthwise portions and a pair of opposing widthwise portions; the pair of opposing widthwise portions being positioned in between the pair of opposing lengthwise portions; and the plurality of brushes being adjacently connected to one of the pair of opposing widthwise portions.
 4. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises: each of the plurality of brushes comprises a plurality of bristles; and the plurality of bristles being oriented normal to the outer lateral surface.
 5. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the edging frame further comprises a pair of opposing lengthwise portions and a pair of opposing widthwise portions; the pair of opposing widthwise portions being positioned in between the pair of opposing lengthwise portions; and a corresponding handgrip from the plurality of handgrips being centrally connected to each of the pair of opposing lengthwise portions and each of the pair of opposing widthwise portions.
 6. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a buoyancy feature; and the buoyancy feature being integrated into the edging frame.
 7. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the edging frame further comprises a first assembly piece and a second assembly piece; a division between the first assembly piece and the second assembly piece traversing through said inner lateral surface and said outer lateral surface; the buoyancy feature comprises a first channel and a second channel; the first channel being integrated into and about the first assembly piece, adjacent to the division; the second channel being integrated into and about the second assembly piece, adjacent to the division; and the first channel and the second channel being pressed against each other, wherein the first channel and the second channel is used to retain water within the edging frame.
 8. A handheld pool skimmer comprises: a edging frame; a mesh; a plurality of hand grips; a plurality of brushes; a buoyancy feature; the buoyancy feature comprises a first channel and a second channel; said edging frame comprises an inner lateral surface, an outer lateral surface, a first assembly piece, and a second assembly piece; said mesh being perimetrically connected to the inner lateral surface; said plurality of hand grips being distributed around the edging frame; each of the plurality of hand grips being integrated into the edging frame; each of said plurality of brushes being adjacently connected to the outer lateral surface; the buoyancy feature being integrated into the edging frame; a division between the first assembly piece and the second assembly piece traversing through said inner lateral surface and said outer lateral surface; the first channel being integrated into and about the first assembly piece, adjacent to the division; the second channel being integrated into and about the second assembly piece, adjacent to the division; and the first channel and the second channel being pressed against each other, wherein the first channel and the second channel is used to retain water within the edging frame.
 9. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 8 comprises: a plurality of rivets; said mesh being perimetrically pressed in between said first assembly piece and said second assembly piece; and said first assembly piece and said second assembly piece being attached to each other by said plurality of rivets.
 10. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 8 comprises: the edging frame further comprises a pair of opposing lengthwise portions and a pair of opposing widthwise portions; the pair of opposing widthwise portions being positioned in between the pair of opposing lengthwise portions; and the plurality of brushes being adjacently connected to one of the pair of opposing widthwise portions.
 11. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 8 comprises: each of the plurality of brushes comprises a plurality of bristles; and the plurality of bristles being oriented normal to the outer lateral surface.
 12. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 8 comprises: the edging frame further comprises a pair of opposing lengthwise portions and a pair of opposing widthwise portions; the pair of opposing widthwise portions being positioned in between the pair of opposing lengthwise portions; and a corresponding handgrip from the plurality of handgrips being centrally connected to each of the pair of opposing lengthwise portions and each of the pair of opposing widthwise portions.
 13. A handheld pool skimmer comprises: a edging frame; a mesh; a plurality of hand grips; a plurality of brushes; said edging frame comprises an inner lateral surface, an outer lateral surface, a pair of opposing lengthwise portions, and a pair of opposing widthwise portions; said mesh being perimetrically connected to the inner lateral surface; said plurality of hand grips being distributed around the edging frame; each of the plurality of hand grips being integrated into the edging frame; each of said plurality of brushes being adjacently connected to the outer lateral surface; the pair of opposing widthwise portions being positioned in between the pair of opposing lengthwise portions; and the plurality of brushes being adjacently connected to one of the pair of opposing widthwise portions.
 14. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 13 comprises: a plurality of rivets; the edging frame further comprises a first assembly piece and a second assembly piece; a division between the first assembly piece and the second assembly piece perpendicularly traversing through said inner lateral surface and said outer lateral surface; said mesh being perimetrically pressed in between said first assembly piece and said second assembly piece; and said first assembly piece and said second assembly piece being attached to each other by said plurality of rivets.
 15. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 13 comprises: each of the plurality of brushes comprises a plurality of bristles; and the plurality of bristles being oriented normal to the outer lateral surface.
 16. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 13 comprises: a corresponding handgrip from the plurality of handgrips being centrally connected to each of the pair of opposing lengthwise portions and each of the pair of opposing widthwise portions.
 17. The handheld pool skimmer as claimed in claim 13 comprises: a buoyancy feature; the edging frame further comprises a first assembly piece and a second assembly piece; a division between the first assembly piece and the second assembly piece traversing through said inner lateral surface and said outer lateral surface; the buoyancy feature being integrated into the edging frame; the buoyancy feature comprises a first channel and a second channel; the first channel being integrated into and about the first assembly piece, adjacent to the division; the second channel being integrated into and about the second assembly piece, adjacent to the division; and the first channel and the second channel being pressed against each other, wherein the first channel and the second channel is used to retain water within the edging frame. 